Wichita eagle., 1887-05-26
KATTE'S ENGAGEMENT.

KATTES ENGAGEMENT.
seYou might have knocked me down
With a feather, Charley" / said, "when
Miss Kate asked me to accompany her
abroad
at would require a pretty strong
feather" he replied. "And what did
ysu says'
"Of course wanted your permission.
She quite understood that; and It is
arranged that tomorrow 1 am to call at
the house and let her know"
''ff you want to go, Lucy, 60 by all
MEANS said he, taking up the news
paper.
cts not so much that, but you see we
should gain something for the winter.
The child wants clothes; / want a few
things myself, and your shirts, Charley,
are fraying out dreadfuly"
That's right! bring me IN and get
your own way. You're . nns diplomat1st,
Lucy-a trifle transparent, but quito the
right thing"
''Then may 60, Chsrlsys'' l asked
''Csrtainly," he replied. 81 viii try to
mana without you fer . month
j
laughed. Indeed, I am not quite sure
that he didn't rather enjoy the prospect;
but held my tongue, and next day made
my arrangement with Miss Katie, who
had asked me to accompany her into
Switzerland, where she WAS to stay awhile
with her aunt and cousins.
THANK you SO much, Mrs. Farmer"
she said. Father would not have been
50 satisfied if you had not consented to 90
with me. l hope Mr.. Farmer does not
mind much"
"Not much, miss. When do we start?"
"Next Monday" she replied; and that
day We quilted home, coming through
London to Dover, where we slept that
night.
1t was In the spring should have told
you; and the passage was little rough;
the day was chilly too. 1t wasn't natural
that Miss Kate should travel unnOticed,
and before we reached Calais a gentle
man and his sister, o pleasant spoken
couple, were talking to her. They were
also going into our part of the country
some place ending in ''berg'-but whether
Iceberg or Snowberg, or some other name,
l can't distinctly say think it was
Zweiberg, or Two Mountain valley.
The young gentleman and his sister
were going in the same direction. Their
name was Neville. They had no servant,
SO it was well | was there, and waited on
Miss Neville who was, l must say, liberal
in her notions; so Charley's shirts were
soon paid for
We travelled quickly enough, but one
day, as we were waiting for n steamer to
carry us on from some place which for
get to another that 1 can't exactly now
remember, l got a shock which nearly
turned me into the image Of Lots wife.
Close to Miss Katie, unseen by her,
stood desperate man / knew too we'll
Gideon Grasper. Yes, the man she had
refused-the man who had sworn to he
revenged-the INSCRIPTIONS Grasper HIM
self
He had disappeared from our village
after that wreck business, which no one
could rightly f:;lom, when Miss Katie
repulsed him. .icre WAS some talk-for
our folk are rare gossips-but no one OF
us, so far, had even seen him until now
/ was alone, bag in hand, watching her
as she stood on the little landing stage,
deep in thought. while Miss Neville
watched the steamer, and Mr. Neville
was hurrying down with the big bag
after me.
/ was in a terrible fright for fear Miss
Katie should see Grasper. He kept aside
and watched; he meant mischief: yet in
some respects he was changed his hair
and beard were long, his dress was almost
Germanlike, and he was smoking china
pipe. But his eyes were as cruel and
vindictive as ever; and l shuddered as I
saw him fasten them on Miss Katie
Fourteen months had made a deal of diff
ference in his appearance; l doubt II he
had altered In himself.
Up came the little steamer, and we all
went on board. Mr.. Neville attached
himself to Miss Katie, and could sec him
whispering to her; and she laughed, but
blushed all the same, and said, Just
fancy such thingr' a favorite saying of
hers. Gideon Grasper was forward. and
made no sign until | went near the en-
CINE, when he came behind me and whis-
pered:
Are they engaged, chr Tell me-
Quick!'
How dare you address me like thats'
asked, turning on him in English plain
rs his face
you're not the queen of England, nor
yet the empress of Russia, SO | suppose
can talk to country woman. Ny dear
Mrs. Farmer, you are looking younger
tuAu cNcT-teu years ~ lesASl.
"Mr. Gideon Grasper," said, Il can't
return the compliment, and | require
none of yours. We are strangers since
you wrecked that bark
Hold your tongue.' he Kissed. ''or 1t
will be bad for you and your baby faced
girl yonder. l suppose you know she is
engaged to me,'
ITO your l exclaimed .'Oh heaven
forgive you such a story! Why, she hates
your
docs shes Then she'll have TO change
her mind. l have her promise in writing,
more than eighteen months old; and il
was never retracted. / can claim her
or
''Or whats'' | asked, trembling ut his
eyes as they searched ME ;hrough-.'Or
WHAT
''Or she'll not live to marry any one
elsei Do you suppose didn't know
she has come sway to avoid
met Yes, she has; but Gideon Grasper is
not the man to give up his sweetheart.
I've suffered enough for her already. Now
20 and tell her, if you like. But, mind,
am at your elbow, and can have you AZ
rested at any moment, If l please, a.
Russian Nihilists."
sYou're a demon. Gideon Grasper-a